The Osceola times., 1887-06-25

oniy 700 giad 10 accede to the request,
as, in getting the wood from the box,
he had (or probably made) occasion to
lit the old satchel out of the way; and
Mr. SIS keen eye noticed that as he
iifted 1t, he took the opportunity to
feel (as well as the circumstances
would admiD its weight, and thus try
to determine, if possible, its contents.
A somewhat lengthy conversation en-
sued between Mr.. S. and his newly.
found friend" and to certain in.
qulries made. S. said that he was on
his way to Philadelphia; that he had
been working up in one of the offices
in Albany. but "the boss' had dis
charged him, and, as it was necessary
that he should be at work, in some
way. in order to support his family, he
was hoping, through the influence of
an acquaintance there, to get a situa.
ton. by the way" said Mr.. S.,
won't you toss me that old satchel?
think my wife put some apples in it
for me-"
The sachel was tossed and opened;
the apples were found and division
OF them made, and soon they were
(apparently) "hale fellows well metz
whiNng away the time as best they
could, as the train was slowly making
its way to New York. The night was
dark, cold and dreary ran-storm had
set in, and their train, due in New
York at 10 p. m, was two hours late;
and as the hour of mid.
night drew on. Mr.. s. had many
troubled thoughts and queries with
himself. "How am to rid myself of
these menp How get the sachel in
safety to a hotelP What if there is
no carriage in waiting at the depot, on
my arrival? Whatif these men should
rob, possibly take my life in order to
accomplish their object? The case is
desperate indeedr'
Such were his thoughts as the train
reached its destination, and New
York" was announced by the brake
man. On leaving the car these newly
made "friends" were careful to keep
in company with Mr.. S. and the old
sachell
As they walked along through the
depot, one Of the men inquired:
Where are you going to stop to
night?"
To which Mr. S., in careless way,
replied:
II don't know. Where is a good ho-
telP"
They answered:
AVE are going to one in Chambers
street, and it is good oner
'I guess I'll 90 there, toor' replied
Mr. S.
BY this time the end of the depot
building was reached; and there, at
that midnight hour, in the pouring
rain-storm. stood one single carriage,
with its driver by its side.
What will you charge to take IL to
the - Hotel in Chambers strect?"
inquired Mr.. S.
1.-TWO dollars" replied the driver.
At this critical moment, determined,
then and there, if possible, TO rid HIM
self of his pursuers, Mr.. 5. jumped into
the hack, quickly closed the door, and,
holding il fast from the inside, halloed
to the driver,
"I'll give You ten dollars to drive as
quickly as possible to the Metropolitan
Hotel! Hasten for your life!'
The driver, comprehending in some
sense the situation of the case, jumped
upon his seat. and was just starting.
when one of the men outside, angered
at the sudden turn of affairs. and de-
termined. if possible, still to obtain
the desired booty. made a dash for the
sachel through the carriage window,
shivering the glass into thousand
pieces. This detained the driver for a
few moments. rs he thought of the
broken window of the carriage, and
knew not who would settle the bill.
"Never mind the glass! I'll pay for
that! Drive on for your life!" said
Mr.. 5. eXcitedly.
nus iNHultu lnub nt Shpilh b' ht
loser, the driver put the lash to his
horses, and in a short time he drew up
at the entrance of the hotel. But So
weak was Mr. 5. from the excitement
of the occasion that he could scarcely
move from his seat, though his hotel
had been reached and his pursuers had
been bafiied in their evil designs He
soon recovered himself, however, set
tied generously with the driver, regis
tered at the hotel and was shown to
his room. But even t ere he did not
feel safe. He remembered that these
men heard him give the driver of the
carriage orders to drive him To the
metropolitan" and what would pre-
vent their coming to the hotel, finding
his name upon the register, and the
number of his room, and even then
making one more desperate effort to
obtain that old sachel? These and
similar thoughts, passing quickly
through his mind, led him to decide
that he could not in safety pass tho
night there. He at once called ut the
office, paid for the room he had or
dered, and left the hotel to seek the
private house of friend residing in
the city. The wisdom of this course
was seen in the fact that only short
time after he left the men did actually
call. as Mrs. S. learned the next day,
and inquire for him; and were told